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Health & Fitness

MCC To Host Family Violence Symposium on Sexual Assault

McHenry County College will host a Family Violence Symposium on "Sexual Assault: Developing a Coordinated Multi-Disciplinary Community Approach" from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19.

McHenry County College (MCC) will host a Family Violence Symposium on “Sexual Assault: Developing a Coordinated Multi-Disciplinary Community Approach” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19 in the Luecht Conference Center at MCC. The College is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The theme of the symposium, “Not in My Backyard,” aims to develop a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach to sexual assault that is immediately needed to help the victim. The event is intended for judges, attorneys, teachers, health care providers, probation officers, law enforcement, social workers, counselors, clergy and anyone who responds to the needs of sexual assault victims, their families and the prosecution and sentencing of those committing the crime.

Alarming statistics show that one in every seven Illinois women has been the victim of forcible rape sometime in her lifetime. In McHenry County, about 13,000 women have been raped. More than 70 percent of sexual assault victims are attacked by someone they know.

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“Considering the prevalence of these crimes and the emotional and physical impact on the victim, we need a comprehensive coordinated response,” said Bev Thomas, local coordinator of the 22nd Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council at the MCC Shah Center.

Featured speakers will include: Lyn Schollett, legal counsel for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Kathy Sullivan, forensic scientist for the Illinois State Police Crime Lab; Carrie Wachter, director of Education and Training for Rape Victim Advocates, Chicago; Michael Combs, chief of Criminal Division, McHenry County State’s Attorney; Shannon Liew, RN, BSN, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) coordinator  at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General; and Judith Ierulli, MSW, LCSW from Woman Care Counseling Center.

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This one-day event is presented by the 22nd Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council in partnership with VOICE, a Division of Pioneer Center for Human Services; Centegra Health System and McHenry County College.

The event is open to the public. Cost is $15 for the public and for those seeking general Minimum Continuing Legal Education credits (MCLE’s) and $25 for those seeking Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs).

To register, contact the Shah Center at (815) 455-8593 or email shahcenter@mchenry.edu. For more information, contact Bev Thomas at (815) 479-7792 or email her at bthomas@mchenry.edu.

 

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